Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Opioid Stewardship

Are you looking for a place to showcase your clinical hospital pharmaceutical skills? 

We have the perfect Relief Full Time opportunity for a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist to join our team in Opioid Stewardship at Surrey Memorial Hospital located in Surrey, BC. This relief position is available until approximately January 28m 2026 or return of incumbent.

Who are we? 

We are a collaboration of four premier health employers Fraser Health, Provincial Health Services, Providence and Vancouver Coastal Health and provide an integrated approach to pharmaceutical care and service excellence patients, residents and clients committed to investing in your professional development in creating an environment where you can advance your career. 

As a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist you will work to provide the following services to our patients & colleagues: 

• Consult with internal and external health care professionals on the application of advanced level of theory to delivery of pharmaceutical care. 

• Provide clinical direction on complex cases using evidence based evaluations to evaluate drug therapies and patient medical histories. 

• Participate in patient education and discharge consultations and provide recommendations in the planning and treatment assessment policies and procedures 

• Assist in the development of drug therapy guidelines for individual disease conditions. 

• Identify and initiate clinical drug research. 

• Prepare items such as case studies and articles for submission to professional journals 

• Conduct pharmacological education or in-service sessions 

• Represent the department on multidisciplinary care committees, and at external events. 

Additionally, we would depend on your expertise to ensure that our pharmacists have the most current information as they do their important work of validating prescriptions and identifying safety concerns. 

Sound like this is for you? 

To join us you will need: 

• Current registration as a Pharmacist with the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia. 

• Completion of an accredited Hospital Pharmacy Residency Program. 

• Post-graduate Doctor of Pharmacy Degree. 

• One (1) year's pharmacy experience in the designated specialty area. 

Our pharmacy team always aspires to improve and achieve the best possible care for our patients and improve their quality of life. 

Effective October 26th 2021, all new hires to Fraser Health will need to have full COVID 19 vaccination (have received a full series of a World Health Organization “WHO” approved vaccine against infection by SARS-COV-2, or a combination of approved WHO vaccines). Please note this applies to all postings, and individual medical exemptions must be approved by the Provincial Health Officer. 

Here’s what we have for you: 

• A career that offers you the opportunity to work in a fast growing and exciting organization with professionals who are eminent in their respective fields. 

• Competitive salary package, including comprehensive health benefits coverage. 

We aim to build an environment where you love the work you do, the place where you work, and the people around you. From the financial advisor handling our health care resources, to the IT professional enabling life-saving data, to the nurse and physician on the front line of patient care, everyone plays a role in the care continuum. Together, we create great workplaces. 

We invite you to apply today and find out why employees recommend Fraser Health to their friends as an exceptional place to work. We are committed to planetary health, we value diversity in the work force and seek to maintain an environment of Respect, Caring and Trust. 

Apply now to join our diverse team. 

One team, best pharmacy care, better lives. 

In partnership with the Coordinator, Clinical Pharmacy Services, the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Opioid Stewardship implements and has a major role in the planning, development and assessment of the Opioid Stewardship Program (OSP).

Identifies target areas of opioid drug usage for further evaluation by reviewing historical patterns of use and prepares reports on activities; develops criteria and standards for evaluation/reporting purposes and implements changes to the OSP to accurately assess opioid drug usage patterns; monitors drug-utilization data records for reporting and analysis as required and develops, implements and assesses OSP policies, procedures, standards and other supporting documents; researches current and best practices, conducts critical review of clinical literature including initiating research and publishing articles in professional journals; consults with clinical experts and pharmacy services and acts as the external resource for the OSP; conducts opioid drug utilization evaluations and/or reviews to support research initiatives or opioid stewardship decision making; develops communication materials relating to the OSP.

1. Plans, implements and regularly assesses site-based OSPs; collaborates with project team members, medical and nursing staff to provides leadership and guidance to pharmacy staff to enable the successful implementation of OSP initiatives to enhance the quality and efficiency of drug care.
2. Identifies target areas of opioid drug usage for further evaluation by reviewing historical patterns of use; develops criteria and standards for evaluation/reporting purposes and implements changes to the OSP to accurately assess opioid drug usage patterns; prepares reports on activities and outcomes for further review to determine next steps; evaluates the health outcomes associated with implementation and ongoing activities of the OSP including its impact on opioid-related adverse outcomes.
3. Conducts assessments and provides clinical advice including providing real-time audit and feedback to OSP prescribers aimed specifically at improving the appropriateness of opioid use and prescribing opioids; provides information and/or interpretation on research-based findings and reports on outcomes.
4. Monitors opioid drug-utilization data records for reporting and analysis as required for various needs such as operational, budgetary, surveillance and research utilizing computerized files, databases and spreadsheet software; identifies and resolves discrepancies in information gathered and stored within the system.
5. Develops, assesses and implements OSP policies, procedures, standards, and other supporting documents to identify key targets and/or researches current and best practices, conducts critical review of clinical literature, consults with clinical experts and pharmacy operations and reviews current policies, utilization patterns and supply chain issues; initiates research and publishes article/findings in professional journals.
6. Conducts opioid medication use evaluations and/or reviews to support research initiatives or opioid medication use management decision making; prepares drug technology assessments for applications for change in medication formulary status; presents recommendations to the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee as needed; develops an annual report summarizing the OPS's progress towards achieving the agreed upon metrics including recommendations for future OSP targets and goals.
7. Provides teaching or training to paramedical, nursing, medical and support staff in the interpretation and application of published clinical literature to improve clinical practice outcomes, implement safer prescribing practices and support new change initiatives, drug policies or opioid guidelines; provides support to the Pharmacy Residency Program through training during residency rotations, being a residency project preceptor to PhD, Pharm.D or Master's students and/or in the planning of curricula or practicums on opioid stewardship.
8. Participates in the development of clinical pathways and therapeutic protocols and educates physicians on formulary decisions and related Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee recommendations.
9. Develops communication materials relating to the LMPS OSP such as newsletters, departmental guidelines, procedures and prescriber pre-printed orders; oversees distribution to enable consistency in the dissemination of pertinent information including strategies for real-time audit and feedback, guidelines for direct consultation with the applicable prescriber and/or written notices placed strategically in the patient's current health record.
10. Organizes and/or participates in regular meetings and/or multi-disciplinary team rounds with applicable prescribers and healthcare team members for feedback on specific OSP interventions and education on OSP strategies; acts as the external resource person on opioid stewardship for LMPS.
11. Maintains expertise in applicable pharmacy areas by reviewing periodicals and associated literature and undertaking professional continuing education programs to ensure current best practices are effectively implemented and/or utilized; participates in quality improvement activities reviewing current practices, performing quality assurance audits including developing quality assurance standards, identifying actual or potential problems and recommending changes.
12. Participates in staff meetings, committees and other programs as required; identifies opportunities to improve processes and/or procedures and informs local policies to enable safe and efficient operations Maintains a variety of records; prepares reports on a variety of activities within the discipline, gathers and records information into approved formats, accounts for variances, sets up and updates computerized files and spreadsheets using word-processing and spreadsheet software.
13. Represents LMPS regarding OSP on multidisciplinary committees by attending meetings and providing input.
14. Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Current registration as a Pharmacist with the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia.

Certificate of completion of year 1 and year 2 of a Hospital Pharmacy Residency Program accredited by the Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board (CPRB) supplemented by two (2) years' recent, relevant hospital pharmacy experience including one (1) year's pharmacy experience in opioid stewardship or an equivalent combination of education, training and related experience.

• Broad knowledge organizational policies, procedures and standards of care.
• Knowledge of evidence-based clinical practice related to opioids and opioid use.
• Knowledge of pharmacoeconomic evaluation.
• Knowledge of research processes and methodology.
• Knowledge of hospital and pharmacy information systems.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing including the ability to make presentations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other health practitioners, as well as patients, family members and the public.
• Ability to plan, implement, organize, problem-solve and manage projects.
• Ability to coach, mentor, participate, teach and facilitate learning within a multidisciplinary setting.
• Ability to operate related equipment including applicable software applications.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.